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Employment-Based Third Preference Visa Numbers Advance Significantly

The employment-based third preference category cut-off date for most countries advanced significantly for the second month in a row, as reflected in the June 2013 Visa Bulletin.

The Department of State’s Visa Office said this recent rate of movement is not expected to continue in the future. Rapid forward movement of cut-off dates is often followed by a dramatic increase in demand for numbers within three to six months, the Visa Bulletin explains. Once such demand begins to materialize, the cut-off date movement will begin to slow or will even stop for a period of time.

For June, the employment-based third preference cut-off date for China is September 1, 2008; for India, January 8, 2003; for Mexico, September 1, 2008; and for Philippines, September 22, 2006. For all other chargeability areas, the date is September 1, 2008. The dates for the “Other Workers” categories in June are the same, except for China-mainland born, which is October 22, 2003.

In May, the corresponding cut-off dates were December 1, 2007 (China, Mexico, and All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed); December 22, 2002 (India); and September 15, 2006 (Philippines).

For June, the employment-based first preference is Current. Second preference is also Current except for China-mainland born, which is July 15, 2008; and India, which is September 1, 2004.